Bleeding the Pelican State dry: A letter to the editor

Re: "Cosmetic updates to official Louisiana banner debut," Page 1, Nov. 23.
After reading the newspaper on Tuesday I had to reflect on the inappropriate timing of the unveiling of the new state flag design. The depiction on the banner of the mother pelican, feeding her young with her own blood, is intended to symbolize the state's willingness to make sacrifices for the well-being of her citizens.

Although I applaud this step toward historical accuracy, I couldn't help but notice the stark discrepancy between the message our state officials are sending and what they are actually doing.

The state has bled herself indeed, but not for her younger generation of citizens, who, like the fledgling pelicans on the flag, need her sacrifice for their own livelihood.

Instead, our mother Louisiana inflicted upon herself a painful budget crisis in the name of lowering income taxes for the wealthy. This is a shameful time in our state's history, and our leaders should own up to their decisions, which amount to a betrayal of our flag.